Abstract
This paper addresses the role played by Public Sector (PS) employment across different ECD labour markets in explaining: (i) gender differences regarding choices to work in either PS or private sector, and (ii) subsequent changes in female labour market outcomes. To do so, we provide some empirical evidence about cross-country gender differences in choice of employment in the PS vs. the private sector, using the European Community Household Panel (ECHP), in the light of different theories on gender behaviour in the labour market. We also analyze the main determinants of the hourly wage gaps across these two sectors for males and females separately. Finally, we document the main stylized facts about labour market transitions by male and female workers among inactivity, unemployment, working in the PS and working in the private sector.
Highlights
Public Sector (PS, ) employment accounts for about 20% of total employment on average in most OECD economies with this share being higher in Scandinavia and lower in Chile and Turkey
We find a negative correlation between female share in PS employment (FPSE) and the corresponding gender gap in the private sector
- All else equal, PS employment seems to be relatively more attractive for women vis-à-vis men in the Nordic countries, Germany, Ireland and Portugal, while it is less attractive in Italy, Spain and The Netherlands
Summary
Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and not those of IZA. Research published in this series may include views on policy, but the institute itself takes no institutional policy positions. The Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in Bonn is a local and virtual international research center and a place of communication between science, politics and business. The center is associated with the University of Bonn and offers a stimulating research environment through its international network, workshops and conferences, data service, project support, research visits and doctoral program. IZA Discussion Papers often represent preliminary work and are circulated to encourage discussion. Citation of such a paper should account for its provisional character. A revised version may be available directly from the author
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